4 Delicious Ways to Detox

Bounce back from holiday indulgences with these cleansing foods

The anything-goes extravaganza known as the holiday season can leave you feeling run-down, sluggish, and bloated come January. And no wonder, since your poor liver's been working overtime for the past few months, flushing excess toxins out of your body.

Luckily, the cure is as close as the food in your kitchen. Certain nutritional power-houses are renowned for their ability to remove impurities, aid weight loss, and reduce bodily inflammation, which—bonus!—helps your immune system do its job better.

1. Combine turmeric and olive oil. Rub on chicken and season with salt and pepper to taste. Marinate for 2 hours.2. In a medium saucepan, bring shallots, apple, sugar, salt, and butter to a simmer over medium-low heat. Cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add vinegar and remove from heat.3. Preheat grill. Grill chicken for about 3 to 5 minutes on each side, until cooked through. To serve, spoon 1/4 cup caramelized apples and shallots over each chicken breast.

1. Heat a large skillet or saute pan over high heat. Add oil, shallot, and garlic, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add mushroom and cook, stirring, until it starts to give off its liquid, 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, stir, and cook for 15 seconds.2. Add mussels, shake the pan well, and cook until they start to open, about 20 to 30 seconds. Stir in herbs and cook for 10 seconds. Pour in wine and bring to a boil. Add butter, stir to incorporate, reduce heat to medium, and cook uncovered until mussels open and liquid is reduced by one-quarter in volume, 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 minutes.3. Remove pan from heat. Season mussels with salt and pepper to taste and stir well. To serve, divide mussels and the wine and tomato sauce among 4 large soup bowls.

POWER INGREDIENT: Fresh Herbs
Green herbs like parsley, thyme, and oregano are rich in carotenoids, the building blocks of vitamin A, and high in vitamin C—both great immune-system enhancers, says Junelle Lupiani, R.D., dietitian at Miraval Resort & Spa in Tucson.

1. Preheat oven to 225°F. In a small bowl, combine oil, zest, coriander, and ginger. Place salmon in an ovenproof baking dish and brush with oil mixture.
2. Bake salmon for 15 minutes, then turn on the broiler and crisp for 3 more minutes. To serve, mix honey and black pepper and drizzle over fish with soy sauce.

POWER INGREDIENT: Salmon
The omega-3 fats in this lean protein increase the production of a compound that repairs damaged cells and helps control inflammation, says fitness nutrition coach Kara Thomas, fitness director for the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, combine hazelnuts, honey, cayenne, and salt. Spread on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cool.
2. Combine shallot, vinegar, Dijon, and oil in a food processor and process until smooth.
3. Divide greens, blueberries, and hazelnuts evenly among four plates. To serve, drizzle each with one quarter of the dressing.

POWER INGREDIENT: Blueberries
With the highest antioxidant punch of any berry, these blue wonders protect against oxidative stress, which can lead to chronic inflammation, says Lindsay Martin, R.D., staff nutritionist at Hilton Head Health on South Carolina's Hilton Head Island.